Jake Waters is officially out at Iowa State and headed east to reunite with Matt Campbell at Penn State. The former Kansas State quarterback turned Cyclone assistant is taking the same job in State College, leaving behind a program already trying to find its footing after Campbell’s departure.
Waters had been with Iowa State for years and worked his way up through the ranks, eventually landing the quarterback coach title in 2024. He was a steady piece of the staff and had a hand in developing Rocco Becht into one of the most productive passers in the Big 12. It wasn’t flashy, but the results spoke for themselves. Becht regressed a bit this year, but still finished with some solid numbers.
Now, with Campbell gone and the coaching staff turning over, Waters is following the guy who gave him his shot. It’s not shocking, but it’s still a tough loss for Iowa State. Waters was well-liked, respected by the locker room, and had built real trust in that quarterback room. That’s not easy to replace, especially when you’re already scrambling to keep the rest of the roster together during transfer portal season.
And look, this isn’t going to be the last familiar name Campbell takes with him. This was always part of the deal. When a coach jumps to a big-time job, the guys who helped him win games tend to follow. Waters is just the latest, and probably not the last.
For Penn State, it’s a smart hire. You get a position coach with Big 12 chops, a long relationship with Campbell, and someone who’s already proven he can get a young quarterback ready to roll. It’s plug-and-play for a program that’s trying to get its offense clicking under a new staff.
Back in Ames, Jimmy Rogers is left picking up another piece. The head coaching hire was already a curveball, and now he has to go find a quarterbacks coach who can earn respect in a room that just watched their guy walk out. Timing isn’t great, but that’s life in the business.
Campbell’s pulling his people with him, and Iowa State is paying the price.
